Busy Week — Important Week — Rampage Playoff Hopes On Line

Looking at the Rampage playoff chances, it’s apparent this is the week that will most likely tell us if the post season is in the offing for the San Antonio entry in the AHL.

The Rampage have made the playoffs only three times in 11 seasons, including their last appearance two years ago when they advanced to the second round against Chicago, but lost to OKC.

The team had quite a week on and off the ice.

On the ice — or off it — depending how you look at it, the Rampage saw the momentum they built up on their successful rodeo road trip fade when the ice surface at the AT&T Center was messed up to where they couldn’t finish their game with Texas. They only played 8:01 of the first period and were losing 2-0 when play was halted and rescheduled for Mar. 27. The game will start from that point and fans can use the tickets not only for that game, but for any other home game as well.

It’s tough that the last image of Jacob Markstrom was in that game, when the Stars scored twice on two goals the Swedish goaltender looked like he didn’t have a clue how to stop them. He barely reacted to the first goal and the second goal, although a deflection, made him look bad as well.

Markstrom was shipped off to Vancouver in the Roberto Luongo trade this week, and got into the game in Dallas against the big league Stars when fellow countryman, Eddie Lack, was ineffective for the Canucks in the game.

The Rampage also managed to blow much needed two points last Sunday in OKC, and now trail 8th place Milwaukee by six points, or three games if you’re looking at the standings baseball-style.

Tonight’s game with Charlotte, a team that’s won three straight to get back into the playoff hunt, should give us an indication of where the Rampage are going in these last 20 games. A loss tonight will severely singe those playoff desires. A win will keep them in the hunt.

The week ahead? At OKC Tuesday. Back home Thursday vs. Calder Cup Champion Grand Rapids. At Milwaukee next Saturday and then in Des Moines next Sunday. Overall, San Antonio plays six games in the next 10 days.

Realistically, the team has to get 10 of the possible 12 points, nine minimum. Just about everyone else is winning in the conference, with Abbotsford (o-4-1-1) and Iowa (0-5-0-0) the exceptions. And with shootout and overtime losses in the mix, it’s tough to make up lost ground. That’s why getting the only points in games like tonight vs. a team ahead of you in the standings, is crucial for San Antonio playoff hopes.